Spin State Manipulation: A Key to High-Efficiency Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution Reaction

The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a critical half-reaction in electrochemical energy conversion, yet its sluggish kinetics poses a major barrier to commercialization. Therefore, the development of efficient and stable electrocatalysts for the OER is one of the key measures to solve the energy shortage problem. The design of the catalyst is mainly concerned with its electronic structure. By adjusting the spin state of the active center of the electrocatalyst, the hybrid strength of the active center-ligand bond can be directly affected, and the adsorption strength of the reaction intermediate can be adjusted, so as to improve the activity of the catalyst. In this review, we discuss the importance of regulating the spin state of the active center. The latest strategies, mechanisms, and characterization methods to achieve spin state manipulation are then explored. Subsequently, the progress of the application of spin state modulation in the OER is discussed in depth, and the challenges of current research are analyzed. The necessity of combining density functional theory (DFT) with artificial intelligence (AI) for more precise modulation of spin state was proposed to promote the design and development of high-efficiency and stable OER catalysts to help the development of sustainable energy technologies.